Olympus E-5 vs Sony A850

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-5 versus Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and A850 (Full frame) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-5 was announced 10 months later than the A850 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-5 matches up versus the A850 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-5 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 comes with exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-5 versus Sony A850 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-5 vs the A850.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and A850 is 58 and 54 respectively.

Normally, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and A850.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A850 will result in extra detail with its extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern E-5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.